Animals Eat Each Other
{{Short description|Novel by Elle Nash}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Animals Eat Each Other
| image = File:Animals Eat Each Other.jpg
| author = Elle Nash
| language = English
| publisher = Dzanc Books
| published = 2018
| pages = 121
| isbn = 9781938604430
| oclc = 1050453810
}}
Animals Eat Each Other is the debut novel by American writer Elle Nash published in the U.S. in 2018 by Dzanc Books and in 2019 by 404 Ink in the U.K.{{cite web |title=ANIMALS EAT EACH OTHER BY ELLE NASH |url=https://www.dzancbooks.org/our-books/animals-eat-each-other |access-date=26 June 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194313/https://www.dzancbooks.org/our-books/animals-eat-each-other |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.404ink.com/store/elle-nash-animals-eat-each-other|title=Animals Eat Each Other - Elle Nash|website=404 INK|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=2019-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194318/https://www.404ink.com/store/elle-nash-animals-eat-each-other|url-status=live}}
Set in early 2005, the novel follows an unnamed narrator who becomes involved in a sadomasochistic relationship with Frankie and Matt, a couple who are new parents.
Nash's 2022 novel Gag Reflex is a prequel to Animals Eat Each Other.{{cite web |last1=Jagger |first1=Genevieve |title=Author Elle Nash Talks Early Internet, Obsession, and New Book 'Gag Reflex' |website=The New York Observer |date=3 August 2022 |url=https://observer.com/2022/08/author-elle-nash-talks-early-internet-obsession-and-new-book-gag-reflex/ |access-date=25 December 2022}}
Plot
After graduating high school the narrator, who lives in a trailer with her mother, begins to work at a Radio Shack. A co-worker introduces her to Frankie and Matt, a couple the narrator's age, who are new parents. Frankie gives the narrator the nickname of Lilith, after Adam's first wife. Lilith begins sleeping with the couple, mostly having violent sex with Matt while Frankie watches. After a few months she develops a crush on Matt and Matt and Lilith begin seeing each other in private.
At the same time as she is involved with Matt and Frankie, Lilith is involved in several other sexual relationships including sleeping with her boss and her co-worker. She also begins a flirtation with Matt's friend Patrick. When Patrick's girlfriend discovers the affair she tells Frankie who orders Matt to break up with Lilith.
Lilith spends the time after the breakup mourning her relationship with Matt and having sex with Jenny. Three months later Matt reaches out to her after Frankie is arrested for domestic violence. Lilith has sex with him the first time without Frankie there but when the condom they are using breaks Lilith notices a coldness between them. She takes the morning after pill to prevent a pregnancy and afterwards receives calls from both Frankie and Matt calling her derogatory names and breaking up with her for good.
Reception
The novel received positive reviews. The Masters Review called Nash "a voice on the rise."{{cite web |last1=Grabowski |first1=Alina |title=Book Review: Animals Eat Each Other by Elle Nash |url=https://mastersreview.com/april-book-review-animals-eat-elle-nash/ |access-date=26 June 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194318/https://mastersreview.com/april-book-review-animals-eat-elle-nash/ |url-status=live }} Zyzzyva praised the novel's "rich details".{{cite web |last1=RAVAS |first1=ZACK |title=Original Sins: 'Animals Eat Each Other' by Elle Nash |date=22 June 2018 |url=https://www.zyzzyva.org/2018/06/22/original-sins-animals-eat-each-other-by-elle-nash/ |access-date=26 June 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194319/https://www.zyzzyva.org/2018/06/22/original-sins-animals-eat-each-other-by-elle-nash/ |url-status=live }} Publishers Weekly also named Nash a writer to watch in Spring of 2018{{cite web |last1=Lefferts |first1=Daniel |title=Writers to Watch Spring 2018: Anticipated Debuts |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/76017-writers-to-watch-spring-2018-anticipated-debuts.html |access-date=26 June 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194316/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/76017-writers-to-watch-spring-2018-anticipated-debuts.html |url-status=live }} and called the book 'a complex, impressive exploration of obsession and desire' in its starred review.{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-938604-43-0|access-date=2021-03-24|website=www.publishersweekly.com|title=Fiction Book Review: Animals Eat Each Other by Elle Nash. Dzanc (PGW, dist.), $16.95 trade paper (128p) ISBN 978-1-938604-43-0}} O, The Oprah Magazine featured the book in its top ten 2018 summer reads list,{{Cite web|last=Nash|first=Elle|title=Animals Eat Each Other|url=https://www.oprah.com/book/best-books-june-2018-animals|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Oprah.com}} and Autostraddle called it one of 33 books with the 'best lesbian sex scenes.'{{Cite web|date=2019-02-06|title=33 Literary Books With Great Lesbian Sex Inside Them|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/33-literary-books-with-great-lesbian-sex-inside-them/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Autostraddle|language=en-US}}